Let’s hope the margin isn’t one vote

Republican Steven Vasquez, a candidate for the 21st Congressional seat, lives outside the district and can’t vote for himself in Tuesday’s primary.

Actually, Vasquez isn’t even here to cast a vote. He’s in Long Island for a family medical emergency and he hopes to be back in the area with his campaign team Tuesday night. But that’s uncertain at this point, said Warren Redlich, a team member.

Vasquez, 33, who lives the Saratoga County community of Ballston Lake in the 20th Congressional District, is opposing James Buhrmaster, 62, of Scotia, a Schenectady County legislator and president and CEO of Buhrmaster Energy Group.

From March, when he announced his candidacy, Vasquez, the founder of ReQuest, a consumer electronics company, has sidestepped any discussion of his residency.

“It shouldn’t be an issue,” he said at the time. “I’ve been a Capital District resident for over half of my life, and I’ve worked in the 21st District, including Troy and Albany, and I’ve associated with people in the community,” he said.

Election law allows anyone who lives in the state to run for a congressional seat. The 21st Congressional District – the seat is being vacated by Rep. Mike McNulty D-Green Island who held it for 20 years – stretches over seven counties. The only part of Saratoga County inside the district is the town and village of Waterford.

2 Responses

Wow, we get to see the names Steven Vasquez and Warren Redlich in print here, after an entire primary season spent with Vasquez string-puller Redlich foaming at the mouth because the media isn’t proviving acceptable levels of coverage to his rants.

The editorial board of the T-U did a lame job on the Congressional race, but their comment about Vasquez’s residency was spot on. Who the hell would want a Congressman who didn’t want to bother living in his/her district.

And, following up on one of Herr Redlich’s rants on his own website, just what is it that you’ve got up in your attic, Warren? Were you shopping the equipment auction at the Union Street B&B?